34 minutes ago, Dees2014 said:

Well, let's pause for a moment and analyse axactly what I wrote. 

I put down an aspirational target of getting to 100000 members within six years and within three years a target of 5000, both soft targets IMHO. We already have 40000 this year, so if we did just what we are doing now with no great additional innovation, plus our additional anticipated on-field success, we should easily make the 50000 by 2019. 

The 100000 is based over 6 years, that is an average growth of under  10000 additional members per year for six years. There are over 350,000 people who take a tour of the MCG per year, more than 50% are overseas visitors or new migrants. That is before we really get started targeting their offspring who start to play our game, positioned as a pathway to acceptance and integration (under exploited IMHO). Oh yes, and don't forget the other interesting statistic ie melbourne as a city gets an average of an additional 1500 per week who migrate here both from overseas and the rest of Australia, by far the fastest growth for a capital city in Australia. There is no shortage of "markets" to work with, and with focus and  innovative marketing strategies taking advantage of our current strengths, a few of which I have outlined, as I said, 100000 members by 2023 is a soft target. 

We can't just talk in solid numbers in regards to growth. We have to think in terms of percentages and of outpacing the growth of other clubs. And I just don't see it regardless. I may be lacking imagination, but, generously, say our natural current point of membership is around 50,000. That's supporters who would likely be members if we hadn't been so pathetically horrible in the close recent past. And as the oldest club in Australia. We're going to double that through migrants who have never before seen the sport in just 6 years?

Last thing I'll say on the matter - and I haven't wanted to say it to date, because again it's a generalisation - but I strongly suspect that the majority of Indian students and migrants would find the cultural aspects of our sport, and the sport itself, boorish. And that's even before being in attendance. Heck, there's even people on here talking about being menaced by Camry Crow fans. The Indians are a graceful people. Despite the great joy it brings, there's nothing graceful about guzzling beer and shouting 'maggot' at the umpire. 

I think it's a great idea and an untapped market.

I understand PJ and the board had to focus on getting the onfield and FD right first couple differing where we were. However I would hope they are looking at ways to expand our support base. We are in a precarious position here with an ageing support base and the smallest in the league. Yeah we have a high percentage of supporters converting to members but at a guess I would say that's because a high percentage of our supporters reside within an hour so drive of the MCG. Collingwood and Essendon have supporters all over Australia so it's understandable they don't all join up as members.

I don't think the move to Casey will cut it, the club definitely needs a clear strategy to grow the supporter base. Whether these convert to members is not really the point, of course it would be nice but not a requisite. We have about 25k-35k rusted on who will come watch the team rain hail or shine. If we can add an extra 10-15k per game that would go a long way to sorting out issues. It would bump up games against interstate sides to 40-45k and against Vic sides to 55-70k.

International students and migrants are neglected markets. My wife is Filipino and came to Australia about 15 years ago. She has a massive catholic family here who all follow footy to one degree or another. They have Essendon, Richmond, Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong, North, Bulldogs and Saints supporters in the family but no Melbourne (no Collingwood either as they were all told "anyone but Collingwood" when they came here). They all selected their teams either based on where they live (around Essendon and surrounding suburbs), success (Hawks) or some arbitrary decision based on attending/watching games with a supporter of that team.

Edited May 19, 20178 yr by Dr. Gonzo

Make finals, win finals. 

Once this becomes expected a lot of 2014's ideas are great. I have always wanted MFC presence at the Airport, get 'em as they arrive. 

But without wins all this is just imaginary. 

Schwab found that out, but was never going to admit it. 

Winning big games is what we all want to see

5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Make finals, win finals. 

Once this becomes expected a lot of 2014's ideas are great. I have always wanted MFC presence at the Airport, get 'em as they arrive. 

But without wins all this is just imaginary. 

Schwab found that out, but was never going to admit it. 

Winning big games is what we all want to see

I agree. I am very confident of a flag in the next 4 years, but it won't make us into the superpower club I think we should be. We should own the Melbourne brand. People come to Melbourne, not Collingwood, Hawthorn, Preston, Surrey Hills ..... need I go on. 

When we do win the flag we need a strategy to capitalise, and that cannot be done in a year, even two. We can become an AFL powerhouse, and nothing would give me more pleasure if we did, but it won't happen without a clear vision right across the Club, staff and supporters.

There is a real opportunity here - let's grasp it, rather than knocking every suggestion which is put up. Constructive criticism yes, blanket denial no!!

37 minutes ago, Dees2014 said:

I agree. I am very confident of a flag in the next 4 years, but it won't make us into the superpower club I think we should be. We should own the Melbourne brand. People come to Melbourne, not Collingwood, Hawthorn, Preston, Surrey Hills ..... need I go on. 

When we do win the flag we need a strategy to capitalise, and that cannot be done in a year, even two. We can become an AFL powerhouse, and nothing would give me more pleasure if we did, but it won't happen without a clear vision right across the Club, staff and supporters.

There is a real opportunity here - let's grasp it, rather than knocking every suggestion which is put up. Constructive criticism yes, blanket denial no!!

No arguement from me mate. Going to Casey is not a bad idea at all. Going there as a Celler Dweller was a waste of time. 

We have to play well on TV so we get "known"

a City presence is worth the expense

melbourne=city=football

But all this will only happen with big wins

5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Make finals, win finals. 

Once this becomes expected a lot of 2014's ideas are great. I have always wanted MFC presence at the Airport, get 'em as they arrive. 

But without wins all this is just imaginary. 

Schwab found that out, but was never going to admit it. 

Winning big games is what we all want to see

I agree. I am very confident of a flag in the next 4 years, but it won't make us into the superpower club I think we should be. We should own the Melbourne brand. People come to Melbourne, not Collingwood, Hawthorn, Preston, Surrey Hills ..... need I go on. 

When we do win the flag we need a strategy to capitalise, and that cannot be done in a year, even two. We can become an AFL powerhouse, and nothing would give me more pleasure if we did, but it won't happen without a clear vision right across the Club, staff and supporters.

There is a real opportunity here - let's grasp it, rather than knocking every suggestion which is put up. Constructive criticism yes, blanket denial no!!

With all the apples-oranges caveats - a close study of this data-map can offer some very valuable insights into the psychology of team-selection. 

https://interactive.twitter.com/premierleague/#?mode=team&teamId=all

9 minutes ago, Skuit said:

With all the apples-oranges caveats - a close study of this data-map can offer some very valuable insights into the psychology of team-selection. 

https://interactive.twitter.com/premierleague/#?mode=team&teamId=all

Wow. That is fascinating. 

Gunners are everywhere!!

On behalf of Dees2014

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-12/the-melbourne-yankees-dees-aim-to-own-melbourne